Commissure Attachments for Prosthetic Heart Valves

This paper presents a cost-effective and innovative method for determining visually communicating vehicle's steering angle using VL53L0X distance sensor microcontroller-controlled LED array. The system replaces conventional sensors, offering scalable solution aimed at reducing road accidents due to uncommunicated vehicle turns. number of LEDs activated is directly proportional the angle, providing real-time visual cue trailing drivers. approach promotes enhanced safety while maintaining affordability ease integration.

Source

Valve replacement devices for minimally invasive heart valve replacement that can be compressed for delivery through small incisions and expanded in place. The devices have a radially compressible stent and tissue valve components. The stent has commissural posts with tabs attached to the valve leaflets. The valve leaflets are made of thin pericardium tissue. The compact size enables transvascular or transapical delivery. The valve components are secured inside the stent for compression. The valve tabs attach to the stent posts when expanded. The inner skirt wraps the stent conical section and outer skirt extends outside the stent. The compressed device fits in a delivery catheter for implantation.

Source

Collapsible transcatheter heart valve with a frame design to prevent leaflet abrasion during valve operation. The frame has inwardly extending commissure attachment posts to secure the leaflet commissures. This allows the leaflet moveable portions to be spaced inwardly from the frame inner surface when open, protecting them from contact. This prevents premature wear and failure of the leaflets. The compressed commissure attachment posts initially clamp the commissures during implantation but remain deflected inwardly.

Source

This study presents the design and implementation of a vehicular visible light communication (VLC) system that establishes an expandable VLC-based chain network within tunnel environments to facilitate exchange driving dynamics data, such as target speed acceleration, between consecutive vehicles. The primary aim proposed is improve road safety by reducing risk collisions hard braking events, particularly in tunnels, where limited visibility absence global positioning signals hinder drivers ability accurately assess conditions. A key feature its adaptive beam alignment mechanism, which dynamically adjusts orientation light-emitting diode (LED) module on transmitting vehicle based rhw wheel angle data estimated inertial measurement unit sensor. adjustment ensures continuous reliable link with surrounding vehicles, even when navigating curves tunnel. Additionally, can be integrated into actual vehicles minimal modification utilizing built-in lighting (i.e., LED taillights), offering cost-effective scalable solution achieve objective.

Source

A prosthetic mitral valve designed for minimally invasive implantation that closely matches the native mitral valve geometry. The valve has an expandable frame with flared ventricular and atrial anchors that compress the native tissue. The frame has slots for the leaflets to attach. Commissure plates with sutures secure the leaflet arms. Retention hooks on the ventricular anchor prevent dislodging. The frame self-expands to the implant size. The leaflets have protective covers.

Source

Headlamps are essential for safe night driving, as they must provide sufficient brightness to illuminate the road while minimizing glare other drivers. Designing low-beam optics is more complex than general lighting due need a high-contrast cutoff line, with brightest point positioned near its edge. This challenge becomes even greater when working compact optical systems. In this paper, we propose robust design address issue effectively. We develop bicycle headlamps using cylindrical lens array (CLA) combined reflective create specialized light pattern. The CLA spreads pattern horizontally form line; however, alone does not ensure optimal performance. To overcome limitation, introduce novel principle: generated by reflector, before passing through CLA, should be inverse-triangular or trapezoidal. approach enables shift upward and closer solving key in previous designs.

Source

A tricuspid annuloplasty ring for repairing the tricuspid valve in the heart. The ring is asymmetrically ovoid in shape with discontinuous ends separated by a gap. One end attaches to the annulus near the septal commissure and the other end attaches near the septal leaflet. The ring curves outward toward the inflow side at one end to accommodate the aortic bulge into the annulus. The ring has varying flexibility with a hinge point between segments. This design better conforms to the tricuspid annulus shape and reduces stress on the attachment sutures while avoiding passing through critical structures.

Source

Prosthetic heart valve design with reduced stress on the leaflets to improve durability. The valve has a collapsible and expandable stent with features that indirectly attach the leaflets to reduce stress compared to directly attaching them. The attachment features are rectangular structures with a central aperture. A fabric is folded over the top strut and sutured through the aperture to connect the inner and outer layers. The fabric extends around side struts for some attachment features. This indirect attachment reduces stress on the leaflets during loading compared to direct attachment.

Source

In addressing the design imperatives of automotive headlight miniaturization and energy conservation, this paper puts forth a methodology for vehicle lighting systems that is predicated on free surface optics an intelligent optimization algorithm. The establishment mapping relationship between light source target relevant performance standards. numerical calculation then integrated with MATLAB R2022a to obtain free-form coordinate points establish three-dimensional model. To optimize parameter design, genetic algorithm employed fine-tune max, thereby attaining optimal max strikes balance volume luminous efficiency. experimental results demonstrate by integrating incidence angle into high beam low beam, final simulation show optical efficiency 88.89%, 89.40%. This enables headlamp system achieve lamp framework proposed in study provides reference compact system.

Source

Anchoring a medical device like a heart valve replacement using tether attachment members that have locking mechanisms to secure the tethers without piercing tissue. The tether attachment members have channels through which the valve tethers pass. A locking pin inside the channel can move to engage the tether and secure it. This allows easy insertion of the tether and then locking it in place without piercing tissue like staples. The locking pins can be actuated to move in and out of the channel. The tether attachment members can be positioned adjacent to puncture sites in the heart wall to anchor the valve tethers and close the punctures.

Source

Steerable catheter system for repairing heart valves with multiple steerable catheters that can be precisely positioned relative to each other for valve annulus implantation. The system has two catheters: a main catheter with a bent distal end and a smaller catheter that can slide through the main catheter and expose its distal end. By bending the main catheter, the smaller catheter's distal end can be driven into the valve annulus. Straightening the main catheter exposes more of the smaller catheter. This allows sequential anchoring of multiple locations in the annulus using separate anchors from different catheters.

Source

A lightweight, single-piece device for fixing cardiac valve leaflets to treat regurgitation. The device has a biased, closed configuration where tissue engaging surfaces are held adjacent by a force sufficient to grasp leaflets. A delivery tool with spreaders can translate the surfaces between open and closed to capture leaflets. The single-piece design reduces weight and components compared to multi-part devices. The device's shape memory bias force enables secure leaflet fixation without excess weight.

Source

Tissue anchors for cardiac valve repair that have features for easier delivery, improved anchoring, and visual confirmation of successful implantation. The anchors have shaped eyelets for sliding along wires/sutures during delivery, spacers to compress during implantation, and heads that deform to indicate successful anchoring. The spacers prevent excess wire/suture from protruding and the heads compress against the tissue. The eyelets have tapered sections to slide smoothly along wires/sutures when aligned and orthogonal. The anchors can also have locking mechanisms to secure the sutures after annuloplasty.

Source

A suture lock assembly for securing sutures during implantation of medical devices like prosthetic heart valves. The assembly has a tensioner that can rotate to gather suture length. It also has a quick release mechanism to lock and unlock the suture end. This allows sutures to be securely tightened, then released for easy removal after device implantation. The assembly is integrated into the delivery apparatus for the implantable device.

Source

Anchoring device and system for securing a prosthetic heart valve to tissue without the need for sutures. The anchoring device consists of a surgical anchor with a distal tip to pierce tissue and a proximal head to engage the valve. The anchor is deployed through the valve into adjacent tissue, then the head is brought into contact with the valve to approximate it. Tension in the anchor pulls the valve into place. The system uses a deployment device with rotating arms to drive anchors into tissue. The valve itself has malleable inflow cells, rigid annular cells, and rigid leaflet posts to allow tissue ingrowth.

Source

Device and method for securing a prosthetic heart valve at a native valve like the mitral valve. The device is an expandable anchor with a lower portion in the ventricle and an upper portion in the atrium. The lower portion clamps the leaflets using protrusions. The upper portion supports the atrium. The prosthetic valve is inserted inside the native valve and expanded to clamp against the lower anchor. This fixes the prosthetic valve in place without compressing the native annulus.

Source

Split type precisely anchorable transcatheter mitral valve system for minimally invasive mitral valve replacement. The system comprises two parts: a split mitral valve anchoring stent and a separate split transcatheter artificial mitral valve. The anchoring stent is delivered first to the mitral valve site and engaged with the native valve tissue. Then the transcatheter valve is inserted and expands, causing the anchoring stent to deform and further bind to the valve. This allows personalized valve positioning and support without needing a single integrated device. The stent shape is customized based on patient anatomy. The stent deforms from a funnel to cylindrical shape during valve expansion.

Source

Expandable prosthetic heart valves that better secure to and remodel the valve annulus to improve performance compared to traditional expandable valves. The valves have anchors that engage surrounding tissue when deployed. These anchors can be separate components or integrated into the valve body. They pull inward during valve expansion to constrict the annulus. This reduces the valve size and pulls the annulus tissue inward as well. The anchors can also be constricted separately using external mechanisms. The valve construction allows treating large annuli with fewer valve sizes and reducing device profile.

Source

Delivery systems and methods for anchoring medical devices like tissue anchors in the heart. The systems have flexible inner shafts enclosed in rigid outer shafts. This allows flexible delivery through curved paths, then rigid anchoring once in place. The inner shaft can split or separate from the outer shaft when torque resistance is reached, indicating anchoring.

Source

Prosthetic heart valves with improved sealing and anchoring to native valves, particularly for minimally invasive implantation. The valves have features like radial flanges, conformable structures, offset sealing sections, and distal anchor configurations to better match irregular native valves and promote sealing and anchoring. They can also have docking mechanisms to simplify implantation. The valves can be delivered through smaller incisions compared to open heart surgery.

Source